The major environmental problem is oil spilling in the ocean. The oil companies that are working in exploration and production are responsible for oil spilling. For example, the main causes come from the pipelines during production or distribution to storages. These have been the greatest pollutant for a large variety of ecosystems in marine environments. Furthermore, the effects resulting from this contamination have been reflected in reduction of marine biodiversity and people’s needs. The major problem for solving this situation are the Petroleum Companies who want to make business as quick as possible due to the oil demand and economic crisis. The investors are looking more and more for profits rather than ecology. The companies should conserve and protect the marine species. Although, there are some governmental policies about oil spills, but the companies don’t care too much. I think the rules should be very strong and severe, because it would permit the companies to develop the higher safety control technology. The Companies will get less profit if they have to pay high taxes for the environment. In conclusion, the environment problem is a global issue, and everybody has to take part in making a friendly and sustainable environment.
Thursday, May 28, 2009
New Life in Carbondale
My life in a small-town since I’m here in Carbondale, has been most of the time boring and with nothing to do. Where I am from, the people have a lot of activities to do in order to be busy and have fun. You don’t really need a group of friends or people around you to do something interesting. My life here in Carbondale is different, because the town is so small and alone you’ll get just a bring time. It is necessary to be with some friends in order to have something to do. In my home city, you can go to the beach, cinema, parks, rivers, mountains, and other amazing things easily. In comparison with this small town, you have to be creative to not get bored. The transportation service, like buses or taxis, also is really different. Here the people depend much on their cars to move to any place. There are scheduled buses and expensive taxis. This thing is really different from my city, because there the buses and taxi service is very fluent, and the most important, very cheap. For this reason, my life here has been a little difficult. I can’t go anyplace easily or to far places either. I have to walk long distances usually in order o buy some food and get other stuff. An other interesting and important thing is the meals; because here it is very difficult keep the habit of eating good and healthy food. Usually the good meals are expensive, and people have the custom of eating whatever kind of food, for example, fast food or foreign food.
Adolfo Villadiego
Garbage in Colombia
The environment is a topic that concerns people all around the world। One that affects this is garbage collection, because people are not enough educated to treat this. This problem is common in almost all underdeveloped countries, and my country is not an exception. One of the major problems that my country is facing today is the collection of the garbage. Garbage is thrown everywhere in the land, because most people do not know that this can affect their life in the future. Though the government has implanted some programs to teach the people about recycling, these have not enough, because most people do not pay attention to this. Example one of the main rivers is very polluted today because people and some main factories throw chemical wastes, garbage and anything that they can into it. They think that this is not going to affect anything because the river is big and long. Then, the stream takes everything far away from they are living. However, we can see that the people who suffer the most are people who live on the sides of this river. They use this water for cooking, drinking, washing, agricultural activities and everything. Children are the most affected because they belong to poor families and their families do not have another choice than using the water and resources that the river offers them.
I understand that educating people is very hard when they have lived in this situation for years and from generation to generation. However, I think that government has to use different strategies to make people and factory owners aware of the consequences of throwing garbage in inadequate places like rivers and forests.
FW#2 Tiny cell phone
Looking at modern trends, are the cell phone has becomes tiner and cuter. We can look back 10 years. In 1998, Nokia 8800 was the most famous cell phone in China. It was large, had no color screen and was really complex to use. How about cell phone today? There are millions of choices, such as Blackberry, Nokia, Moto, and Sony. All of them believe that a tiny and high technology cell phone is perfect. For example, LG, a famous electric company, created a kind of cell phone that is called “chocolate.” It is really tiny and fashionable. And also, that one is my cell phone. It is really useful to me. I do not like to use a big cell phone; such as I phone 3D or Blackberry. It is too big. I think the future of cell phone is going to be tiny and fashionable, because people lie it that way. Furthermore, a cell phone can do lots of things that a computer can, such as sending e-mail, getting a date and shopping online. Those are more important to us. In the future, I think the cell phone companies will keep going this way and make it more technical.
(Ex.2) Pure life in a small-town
When I was in Korea, I was living in the capital city, Seoul. Although I used to live in the big city, I had many chances to visit a small-town, because my grandparents live there. Whenever I visit there, I can feel that the people who are living in small towns live in harmony with their neighbors. They know what happens to their neighbors. For example, one day, my grandmother was sick. But she didn’t make contact with my family, because she didn’t want to bother anyone. Nevertheless my parents couldn’t get any information, we went to my grandmother’s house. The reason is that we got news from my grandmother’s neighbors. In contrast, I don’t know who lives next door to me. It is not strange in a big city. The people living in a big city don’t pay attention to who lives near them or what they do. They just focus on their life. Moreover, the people living in small towns look free and peaceful. Specially, many children play outdoors, such as on a mountain, a streamside and so on. They can feel harmony with nature. For this reason, they may have a positive mind, and they look more free and peaceful. Also, because they don’t have enough information, and it is not easy to get everything that they need and want, they have to depend on nature. So I think that this situation makes the people stay pure.
Earthquakes
The last tow weeks were the hardest weeks of all for people who live in the eastern area of my country. Aleas is a small town in the east of Saudi Arabia. The Saudi government requested all the people who live there to leave it because many earthquakes destroyed it. The earthquake is uncommon in my country. And underneath Aleas there is an inert volcano, and the earthquake might be a good reason to make it active. Yesterday, I called my sister who lives in the important industrial city in my country: it is call Yanboa, and it is far away, about 2 hours, from Aleas city. She said, they also suffered from the earthquake. All the people are worried and they tried to move to the safe cities and that will influence their economies. The Saudi government economy also will be destroyed if the volcano damaged these areas, because they have a lot of factories. I hope nothing bad happens to my country, and I want it to be safe country as what it was.
The future technology
In the future, the cell phone will be used in a virtual way and then just be touched in the air. Therefore, people won’t often bring the cell with them or they will not worry that they would lose the phone anywhere. Besides, the cell phone has a good function for people to use, such as TV function with recorder, copy machine and sharing multimedia function. For example, if one person wants to see a basketball game, but he doesn’t finish his job or he still has an appointment with his friends, he can just press the button on the cell. Hence, he can set up the recorder immediately rather than go back home to set up the recorder. Next, one of the applications that I predict that will be an improvement on the present cell phone is about multimedia function. This is because nowadays not only do many young people love multimedia things like camera or MP3, but also they like to put all things together and just carry a tiny box with them to go out.
A small town
I was lived in a big city, and it has different things than the small town that I live in now. There were high buildings, wide streets, and big malls for shopping. I was very interested there and there was no time to be bored there. The thing that always bothered me most is it was a noisy city. It was crowded with cars and people, so I always worried about my kids and myself while I was driving. Today I live in a small town, which is completely different. I like the small town, because it is so quiet and I like the green land here. Also, to live in a small town is better because it has advantages. First, it does not cost you a lot of money. I mean the cost of living is lower than the big city that I lived in before. Moreover, it is safer than a big city; you do not worry about your kids if they play outside and so on. I prefer living in a small town, especially Carbondale, rather than a big city.
Environmental problems and solutions
With the development of economy, many governments have paid more attention to environmental problems, such as China. China has a large population, which means there must be more pollution. It is said these years, because of the damage to the environment, more and more disasters happen every year, for example, earthquake, sand storm, and flooding. Especially sand storm, it occurs every spring and autumn in some part of China, and people who live in this part have to wear masks to go outside. Some people think that the main reason for pollution is that there are too many industries in China now. They pour dirty water into the river, they cut down trees to make profits, and even put poisoned gas into the air. Nowadays, the Chinese government has set up a powerful control of industry. They make laws and rules to limit the factories. Although in some cases, these might prevent the development of industry, the series of policies is good for the environment and will help create new technology of industry.
Cell phone in the future
Technology has improved since a few years ago. A cell phone is a modern technical device that most people have used. In the past, people just used a cell phone to call. But now cell phone has many applications that users can use. For example, some cell phones have a camera where users can depict their beautiful scenes, events, and everything in their life. A cell phone has applications like a computer does. Also, the cell phone has become very small and easily moved. On the other hand, most technological companies still try to improve their products of cell phone. These improvements include cell phone’s shape and application. In the future, I think that cell phones will be more interesting than cell phones are today. People will be able to see their friends when they call them. And callers can chat with their friends and families. In conclusion, a cell phone will replace a computer in the future.
Chinese environmental problems
Everyone knows that there are many environmental problems in developing countries, because the only thing they want is to improve their economies. China is one of the developing countries; there are a lot of problems, such as the population problem and the global warming problem. I think the major hurdle to solve the problem is that the people never realize these are serious problems. Like the population problem, it’s because of the government. When the new China was built in 1949, the government wanted people to get more babies to help the developing of China. When the government realized this was a problem, the solution was made. Right now, each family only can have one baby. And the major reason that causes the warming problem is that people cut so many trees. We all know that trees eat CO2, but China lost a lot of forests, which makes the global warming worse and worse. People cut trees because they need the tree for productions or they just need a place to grow food or build building. Right now, there are more and more rules that are made to protect forests. People built on more and more forests. Chinese people are trying to fix the problems, but more and more companies and factories are facing the economic problems. Also, government pays a lot of money to fix the problems.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Let’s save our planet from burning.
According to Stephen Leahy in his article ‘Climate Change: Chemical Lobby Weakening Ozone Treaty” the ozone hole over the Antarctica is getting bigger. For this reason, people are suffering from skin cancer and many of them have even died each year that goes by. Consequently, the United Nations Secretary-General said that it was very important to join actions in order to stop this and give a solution to this problem, so nations like Argentina, the US and Canada got together to sign the Montreal Protocol to avoid this problem’s becoming bigger. This is an event that experts in this field have foretold since some years ago. The cause of this problem is the use of some greenhouse gases like CFC, HCFCs and HFCs the agreement in the protocol has not been successful because many countries have not put in practice the rules designed in that treaty. However, the nations are getting together in order to convince more countries to join the cause and give a solution to this problem by using other alternative refrigerants. Finally, the author said that a good agreement could help us to avoid more air pollution and avoid endangering some species. It also can give benefit in health, social and economic aspects.
The ozone layer is a situation that concerns all the countries, because in every country there are factories, cars and other refrigerants that emit greenhouse gases. However, it is very important to get into the following steps. Government must enact an international treaty. Countries all over the world have to control chlorine compounds and monitor the planet atmosphere, and companies have to be involved and cooperate with this cause.
Governments must enact an international treaty, like the Montreal Protocol, to ban ozone-destroying gases such as CFCs, found in aerosol cans and air conditioners.
Countries worldwide have to control the production and use of ozone-eating chlorine compounds, and the Earth's atmosphere will be recovering from damages.
Monitoring our planet's atmosphere is an international priority and every country has to do it to avoid future disasters in the world.
Big and smaller companies have to take actions in order to produce equipment that does not affect the ozone layer.
To conclude, if the countries follow these steps the problem of the ozone layer hole will be reduced and there will be a smaller possibility of air pollution, endangered species and less risk of health problems or social and economic turmoil.
References
POLLACK ANDREW. (1991, May 15) ‘Moving Fast to Protect Ozone Layer’ The New York Times on section D page 1
Stephen Leahy. (2009, May 19) ‘CLIMATE CHANGE: Chemical Lobby Weakening Ozone Treaty” Inter Press Service News Agency.www.lpsnews.net
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
THE OZONE LAYER THRETENED
Artur Marcelino Canumbila
Writing RRJ#1
According to the Stephen Leahy (2008) in his article “CLIMATE CHANGE: What Chemical lobby weakening ozone treaty”, He mentioned how ozone layer has been affected by chemical pollutants and its effects to the planet earth. The Antarctic ozone hole, observed and measured by U.S National and Space Administration (NASA), is about 27 million square kilometers. Up to one million people are affected by skin cancer every year and up to 10,000 people will die in the U.S.A. The agreement signed as the Montreal Protocol, by about 24 Countries, 20 years ago, lead by Argentina, U.S and Canada, avoided damage of the ozone layer and kept away tens of billions of tons carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Nevertheless, they found that ozone-destroying chemicals were mainly greenhouse gases, so the global warming increased more than carbon dioxide in each molecule. “Without the protocol, the ozone layer would be 30 in Washington, instead of today’s of 10” “ A less than three-minute exposure to the sun in Hawaii would have resulted in sunburn. The skin cancers would be at least 650 percent higher” said Paul A. Newman, an atmospheric physicist at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Centre, and co-chair of the Montreal Protocol’s Scientific Assessment Panel. However, the ozone layer is thin, and the emissions of ozone-damaging chemicals have been decreasing since 11 years ago approximately due to substitution of HCFCs and HFCs refrigerants known as hydrochlorofluorocarbons and hydrofluorocarbons. HCFC’s damage ozone is five percent of the rate of CFCs, and HFC doesn’t damage. Both HCFCs and HFC are strong greenhouse gases. Furthermore, there are other options for refrigerants that can protect the ozone layer, for example, carbon dioxide and hydrocarbons. The use of hydrocarbons such as iso-butane, propane in machinery such as refrigerators (green freeze) are perfect refrigerants for ozone, but the U.S. has not used them due to special interests of producers. On the contrary, during the economic crisis the governments will find it difficult to process activities in climate change due to commercial interests. Finally, at the end of 2009 almost 200 countries will discuss solutions for air pollution, deforestation, biodiversity problems and other dangers to the environment, in order to provide health, social, and economic advantages.
I totally agree that humans have been contributing to degrading the environment and have caused damage to the ozone layer and changed global temperature. The consequences of damages caused to the ozone layers has brought problems for human, animals and plants. Some people believe that the use of refrigerants can be another global pollution problem for ozone-damaging chemicals. However, the practical solution for making a safe environment is to create alternative sources of energies instead of a protocol agreement, application of refrigerants that are a not CFCs and reduction of emissions of greenhouse gases.
I totally agree with creation of a protocol agreement among countries as a preventive action for ozone-damaging, reductions in production and consumption of harmful elements. The ozone-destroying has not only been the cause of many human skin problems but also has been the cause of the problems for plants, animals and other species due to the UV radiation. All the countries should join their environmental problems with other countries because the environmental problem is global and they are interconnected worldwide.
The governments should create policies for regulating commerce and manufacturing of refrigerators for producing green devices. New machines should require green combustibles. The refrigerants HCFC’s damage ozone at five percent the rate of CFC’s and HFC’s don’t. Both HCFC’s and HFC’s are strong greenhouse gases because these chemicals act as a layer in the atmosphere that traps heat like a greenhouse. This causes warmer temperatures; plants and animals species migrate North and South towards poles, there are several storms and droughts, and sea level rise. Alternative refrigerants are carbon dioxide and hydrocarbons (iso-butane, propane), for refrigerators (greenfreeze) and air conditioners. I don’t agree with the author that refrigerants could be harmful enough for making a new ozone-damaging chemical because this involves others sources threatened.
The situation of economic crisis definitely makes difficulty progressing activities from the governments for changing the climate. The economic crisis is also a global problem, and all the Nations should work together in order to get a solution. The only way to solve the problem is that investors have to develop new technologies in cars, industries, devices and natural resources for making a friendly environment. Finally, the best solution for saving the environment is to create and develop alternative sources of energies such as biomass, natural gas, wind energy, hydroelectric power, solar energy, hydrogen and nuclear power.
Reference: Leahy, Stephen (2008). Climate Change: Chemical lobby weakening ozone treaty. Retrieved May 19, 2009 from http://www.ipsnews.net/print.asp?idnews=43888
MARINE ENVIRONMENT PROBLEM
The major environmental problem is oil spill in the ocean. The oil Companies that are working in exploration and production are responsible for oil spilling. For example, the main causes come from the pipelines during production or distribution to storages. These have been the greater pollutant for large variety of ecosystems in marine environment. Furthermore, the effects resulted from this contamination have been reflected in reduction of marine biodiversity and people needs. The major problem for solving this situation are the Petroleum Companies who want to make business as quick as possible due to the oil demand and economy crisis. The investors are looking more and more for profits rather than ecology. The Companies should conserve and protect the marine species. However, there are some governmental policies about oil spill, but the Companies don’t care too much. I think, the rules should be very strong and severe because it would permit the Companies to develop the higher safety control technology. The Companies will get less profit if they have to pay high taxes for the environment. In conclusion, environment problem is a global issue, and everybody has to take part for making a friendly and sustainable environment.
Colombia's garbage a problem
Hernan
EAP2
Fluency exercise
May26/09
Garbage in Colombia
The environment is a topic that concerns to people all around the world. One of the things that affect this is the garbage collection because people are enough educated to treat this. This problem is common in almost all under developed countries and my country is not an exception. One of the major problems that my country is facing today is the collection of the garbage. Garbage is thrown in everywhere in the land because most of the people unknown that this can affect their life in the future. Though, the government has implanted some programs to teach people about recycling, these have not been enough because most people do not pay attention to this. For example, one of the main rivers is very polluted today because people and some main factories throw chemicals disposes, garbage and everything that they can into it. They think that this is not going to affect because the river is big and long. Then, the stream takes everything far away from where they are living. However, we can see that who suffer the most are people who live in side and side of this river. They use this water for cooking, drinking, washing, agricultural activities and everything, Children are the most affected because they belong to poor families and their families do not have another choice than use the water and resources that river offers.
I understand that educate people is very hard when they have lived in this situation for years and from generation to generation. However, I think that government has to use different strategies to make aware and factories of the consequences of throwing garbage in inadequate places like rivers and forest.
In Stephen's article "Climate change", the author says environment of the earth has been changed dramatically toward worse. One secretary states that climate change has become worse, but we don't have interested in it since we issued the Montreal protocol. However, sensible approaches to the problem by some countries might have good opportunity toward environments. On the other hand, not only carbon dioxide but also greenhouse gas effects to the earth badly. By next 50years, ozone layer will be destroyed and ultra violet will cause serious problem for our health. However, chemical damage has been decreasing step-by-step because of technical innovation. Changing to HFCS might prevent global warming. Countries in all over the world find a solution about climate change such as exhaust of cars. In conclusion, the author mentions that national commitment would bring good results about environment of the earth. (By Stephen, L.)
Recently, environmental problems has been turned more serious crisis than the last 50 years all over the world. How do you think about environmental pollution? Do you have same opinion same as me? I think that environmental destruction is going up dramatically because when I watch news on TV, I often find about environmental destruction. This shows it is getting serious problem in the world. Serious problems in the world are air pollution, ocean pollution, and desertification, but people still don't come to a head yet, I think. We should have interest about our planet, which is the Earth because the Earth is beautiful, even mysterious.
First, I want to focus on air pollution. It is the worst problem because this problem includes all factors of environmental destruction. Moreover, a car is one of the necessaries of our life, but exhaust gas makes ozone layer to destroy. I think that both social developing and environmental destruction might occur at same time.
Second, oil tankers often cause miserable accident. For instance, every year, they accidentally spill millions of gallons of oil into the sea. It is going to be serious problem even just once. It effects to ecosystem strongly, and fish population is rapidly shrinking. In addition, from these facts, it might be occurred food crisis.
Third, also desertification is serious problem, especially Africa continent. It relates strongly with global warning. Also, global warning might connects air pollution. I think that all of these factors do interaction and fall into vicious circle.
In conclusion, governments all over the world should organize an association for protecting the earth. If they can do it, it is going to be caused good effect for environment of the Earth. Also each of us has to take actions what we can do for the earth. Therefore, if we can pay cloth attention to our planet, we are going to change slowly our nation for the earth. It is good way to protect the earth.
(Reference)
Stephen, L. (2009, May 19). Climate change: Chemical lobby weakening ozone treaty. The Story Underneath. Retrieved on May 19,2009, from http://www.ipsnews.net/print.asp?idnews=4388
Ozone loss
May 20, 2009
Ozone loss
In Leahy’s (2008) article, “Climate Change: Chemical Lobby Weakening Ozone Treaty,” he claims that the rate of skin cancer will be raised and also the climate will be changed because of the ozone problem. The author says that, as an example, more than ten thousand people in the US will die and one million or more have skin cancer. In addition, he shows some views of scientists who say that the ozone layer will be damaged within the next 40 years and a lot of people will have skin cancer. So he says that the people should protect the ozone layer by keeping huge quantities of carbon dioxide out and not enter our atmosphere. Also, he explains that a lot of the organisms, animals and plants, would not be continuing in this life. Finally the author suggests some solutions that use a little amount of energy.
What is the ozone layer? How would the life be without the ozone layer? What will life become like if the temperature reaches 50 Centigrade? The ozone layer is part of the atmosphere that surrounds the globe. People believe that destroying the ozone layer will cause the end of the world. People want to live in this life without any troubles; they want to live without pollution and with good health. The ozone layer has become a global issue, which people around the world focus on because of the risks involved. Therefore, the ozone layer is very important, because it protects life from high temperature, organism extinction, and environment pollution.
First of all, the temperature will rise if the ozone layer is lost. Imagine that the temperature today is 125 Fahrenheit; what will happen? A lot of people will have skin cancer and damage to the eye will be increased. According to Leahy (2008), “A less than three-minute exposure to the sun in Hawaii would have resulted in sunburn. Skin cancers would be at least 650 percent higher” (para. 10). High temperature causes inactivity in humans, and so the production will be decreased.
Next, the ozone layer protects the plants and animals from extinction. Erosion of the ozone layer will affect plant life and agriculture, as there are some plants that have a great sensitivity to the ultraviolet radiation that affects their production and is detrimental to the mineral content and nutritional values and thus cause a weak agriculture. Most of the plants and animals need a median temperature to survive. High temperature burns the plants and makes trouble for the animals’ life.
Finally, erosion of the ozone layer will raise the rate of the environment pollution. It causes forest fires and desertification. The smoke coming from the fire will spread in the air and make breathing a difficult process. Also, plants absorb carbon dioxide from the air and produce oxygen. Water pollution will not let the plants grow well, so the carbon dioxide will increase in the atmosphere and then affect the organism’s life.
In conclusion, the ozone layer is useful for many things; it is useful for the humans, animals and plants, and it is useful for the environment. The ozone layer protects the Earth from ultraviolet radiation released by the sun, which causes severe damage to humans. People should find solutions for the environmental threats to live on the Earth with good health.
Reference:
Leahy, S. (2008). Climate change: Chemical lobby weakening ozone treaty. Retrieved May 19, 2009, from http://www.ipsnews.net/print.asp?idnews=43888
Thursday, May 21, 2009
FW#1 The Storm in Carbondale
On May 8. 2009, there was a terrible storm in Carbondale. I had just told the ISS officer about my part time SIU class when I heard the alert warning of the storm. And then, all the people in ISS had to move to a basement near the ISS building. After 20 minutes, the alert was finished and we could go outside to see how terrible that was be. Exactly, damage was everywhere. Actually I had never seen a big storm like this time before. It is really amazing and horrible. Unfortunately, my car did not have enough gas any more. And the other worse thing happened, all of gas stations in Carbondale, Marion and Murphysboro were closed because power was down. Luckily, I had lots of good neighbors always; they shared their own gas with me, which helped me to leave Carbondale and go to St. Louis on the next day at midnight. I stayed in St. Louis for 5 days until the power was back. During this storm, I knew that it is perfect to have lots of friends when you are in trouble.
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
The biggest Problem around the world
The biggest Problem around the world
Today, there are many issues around the world such as social, economical and environmental problems. However, from my point of view, I think that the most important issue is scientific research. If we develop scientific and technological investigation, we will be able to deal with problems related with food, diseases and the environment. First of all, we can improve the harvest from crops by using new technologies. For example, the transgenic crops can produce a huge quantity of fruit. Second, scientific research helps us to discover new medicines, which can control dangerous diseases. Also, the problem about the hole in the ozone layer was discovered by scientific research. Mario Molina, a chemical researcher, won the Nobel award by his investigations about this problem. In conclusion, it is necessary to do scientific investigation because it helps to solve many problems around the world.
(Ex.1) My own space in Cyworld
I am ashamed but I’m not good at using computers. But there was an opportunity to be familiar with a computer. It was a mini-homepage that is called ‘Cyworld’. It is similar with Facebook in America. People who are doing Cyworld can do many things. First, by putting pictures on their homepages, people can share their daily lives with friends. Moreover, people can keep in touch with others even if they can’t meet many times. In my case, I’m studying abroad without my family and friends. Therefore, my parents always worry about me; also, my friends wonder about my life in another country. By putting the pictures on my website, they can know my daily life. Because there is a visit room where visitors can leave a message to the homepage's owner, I can contact them. It also helps me save the money by not using the international telephone. There are many advantages; however, there are some disadvantages, too. In Korea, most celebrities use Cyworld. They use it to manage their fans. But people who don’t like a specific celebrity use it to hurt them with bad words. So, there were some events in which many celebrities killed themselves with depression.
CARBONDALE'S STORM
I was surprised with what I saw in Carbondale due to the damage caused by the storm. I saw many trees fallen down because the strong winds . It a was really dangerous situation for people. Many houses were destroyed by the strong winds and trees . The cars also were destroyed . The effects of damages caused many costs for the residents because people have to repair their home damages, reconstruct the environment, for example, by cutting the fallen trees, replant new trees and repair the fences. It was a difficult moment not only for human life but also for the city economy. Another critical and negative effect was that the city was restricted from electrical power for more than a week. This affected the city economy as a result of low productivity, low profit and low service. The natural disasters can be prevented but they can not be stopped. I suggested that the government should help people with some finances for reconstructing homes and other damages caused by storms. After the natural disasters, all people should be involved in reconstruction of the city.
Carbondale Storm
When I arrived in Carbondale on May 9 , my friends picked me up and then he told me a storm had happened here yesterday. At that time, I felt surprised and felt lucky not to see the storm. Next, he brought me to the housing. When I arrived in the housing, my housing owner ”Ann” told me no power and no water were provided here. However, I felt so sad when seeing the result destroyed by the storm such as the broken trees. But several days later, I saw the government quickly started to solve the problem and then helped residents recover their housing and garden. So did residents. For example, Ann hired some staff to cut the destroyed trees. Therefore, in my opinion, many people here have a strong decision to recover their environment and go back their normal living.
Hurricane..... Was It Dream!!?
Friday, May 8 is a special day, which I will never forget it all my life. The night before this day was terrible. It was a heavy rain, and bad thunderstorm. In the morning I went to the CESL office to get my classes scores. It was raining but I never knew that anything bad might happen. I took my friend to her house and suddenly we heard the alert. I didn’t know what was happening but I thought about my kids. They were with my neighbor. I went fast to my house and I saw the trees falling down and a lot of police cars driving fast. I was shocked and I felt like it was time to die. The one thing I wanted to do in that time was to call my Mom and hear her voice. I drove slowly until I arrived at Evergreen Terrace, where I live. At that moment I realized that everything was damaged badly and maybe I couldn’t see my kids again. I couldn’t enter Evergreen, because the falling trees closed the roads. I stopped my car beside the road and I ran to my apartment. When I saw my kids and they were fine I cried and gave them a big hug. They were so scared. The next day we left for St . Louis with all Saudi students. After we came back to Carbondale I saw groups of guys who worked hard to recover everything. They are really hard workers and they did a good job. I’m proud of these guys. Now Carbondale comes again as a beautiful town and I hope that never happen again any time.
Storm
Hernan
EAP2
Carbondale storm Friday May 8
The day of the storm I was in my building, when the power cut off. Next, I went down to the second floor. There were many people in the hall. It was raining and the wind was blowing hard. Suddenly, we heard the alarm sound warning of the tornado. After that, the manager told to everybody to go to the basement. In the basement we stayed until the storm ceased. Then, we went out of the building to see the damages that it caused. In the streets we could see the trees, the electrical posts and lines down. We also could see many people who witnessed and were amazed by witness and amaze for the situation. I also could see roofs and cars affected. Finally, I took some pictures to keep them as a memory of this unforgettable day.
THE BIG PROBLEM
Katherine Ortegon M.
May 20-2009
Today people are facing two big problems, first the lack of humanity and second the dependence on technology.
In reference to the first problem I think in our days the people have lost values like respectful for the family, love for the other, the capacity to help others and the comprehension of other ways of mind or beliefs, the world does not have the understanding that money is not the most important in life.
The second problem is related to “the advanced technology” because we create it to resolve problems like processing speed, real time information and others, but now we depend totally on the technology to work, to study, to talk with our friends and family, to share information and make any kind of relationship, and I ask myself: the technology is the answer, but what was the question?
If we put together the lack of humanity and the highest dependency on technology we will find that many problems, including the environmental problems, are related with this, because people are more connected but are farther away from each other. Although the technology has great advantages for communications, it also has a great cost and it is the loss of values. To maintain this technology we consume the resource of future generations, consume a lot of energy, exploit people, create wars and destroy countries; if you want to be someone you have to be on the internet.
In conclusion, for me is very important to use the technology but recovering the values lost and if it happens maybe some day we can understand how to be really connected but not with the Internet but also with the heart.
My own space in Cyworld
I am ashamed but I’m not good at using computers. But there was an opportunity to be familiar with a computer. It was a mini-homepage that is called ‘Cyworld’. It is similar with Facebook in America. People who are doing Cyworld can do many things. First, by putting pictures on their homepages, people can share their daily lives with friends. Moreover, people can keep in touch with others even if they can’t meet many times. In my case, I’m studying abroad without my family and friends. Therefore, my parents always worry about me; also, my friends wonder about my life in another country. By putting the pictures on my website, they can know my daily life. Because there is a visit room where visitors can leave a message to the homepage's owner, I can contact them. It also helps me save the money by not using the international telephone. There are many advantages; however, there are some disadvantages, too. In Korea, most celebrities use Cyworld. They use it to manage their fans. But people who don’t like a specific celebrity use it to hurt them with bad words. So, there were some events in which many celebrities killed themselves with depression.
CARBONDALE'S STORM
I was surprised with what I saw in Carbondale due to the damage caused by the storm. I saw many trees fallen down because the strong winds . It a was really dangerous situation for people. Many houses were destroyed by the strong winds and trees . The cars also were destroyed . The effects of damages caused many costs for the residents because people have to repair their home damages, reconstruct the environment, for example, by cutting the fallen trees, replant new trees and repair the fences. It was a difficult moment not only for human life but also for the city economy. Another critical and negative effect was that the city was restricted from electrical power for more than a week. This affected the city economy as a result of low productivity, low profit and low service. The natural disasters can be prevented but they can not be stopped. I suggested that the government should help people with some finances for reconstructing homes and other damages caused by storms. After the natural disasters, all people should be involved in reconstruction of the city.
Carbondale’s storm
I can’t forget the day that a big storm occurred in Carbondale. That day was Friday, May 8, 2009. When the storm began, I was outside my home. I went to the mosque, and I stayed there until the storm stopped. And then I came back to my home. I saw much damage that happened in roads and buildings. For example, many trees broke and fell on houses. Also, Carbondale’s residents lived in darkness because there was no electricity for few days. Most Carbondale’s residents left Carbondale to neighboring cities. However, many workers have been working to fix damage, and they worked hard to return Carbondale more beautiful than it was before storm. Today, the life in Carbondale has become normal, and most people here can do their work regularly without problem. Finally, I wish that I won’t see a storm in the future.
First Seeing of Storm
Carbondale's storm
Carbondale’s storm was a horrible thing that I had never seen before. I was in the University when the storm began and I heard the warring about the storm. So, I went to the school of my kids quickly, and I picked them up. I cannot imagine what happened outside the house, since I cannot look out to see what is going on. I felt afraid and worried about my kids. They stayed in the kitchen and cried all the time. When the storm became quiet, I looked out to see a horrible sight. The glass was broken, the trees fell down, and roofs were damaged. That damage made me amazed, and I felt so sad, but I thank my God that there were no human losses. The people worked so hard to repair the roofs of the buildings and the electrical poles, but I do not think that they can repair the beautiful and old trees. I hope they can repair the beautiful nature, but I think it will take a long time to do that.
Carbondale's storm
I had never seen this kind of wind. Of course, I heard that a lot. But I didn't know that trees were so weak. The trees fell down easily. First of all, everyone had difficulty in problems. the problems are the shortage of foods, the lack of water,etc. The wind caused these things. Owing to window, I couldn't help eating bread. The only thing that I had was just bread. Neverthless, I learned many things,particulary, how to live without electricity. In the end, the wind taught me wisdom.
While the tornado was coming here, I was staying at Faner Hall. I always heard warning sirens on Tuesdays, but those were not sirens real sirens. However, I first heard a real siren at this time at Haner Hall. Moreover, we had to take shelter in a safe place which was a museum of Faner Hall. Many people gathered from some places, and they talked about the tornado. In addition, even American people here have never seen such a strong tornado in their lives. At this time, SIU held a graduation ceremony on campus. I think they must have gotten an unforgettable experience and might never forget their memorial day with the tornado. In Japan, we often get typhoons. However, a tornado is much stronger than a typhoon. Actually, I had a curiosity about tornados because I have seen it in the movies several times. However, in fact, it was so afraid from things such as no power, no gas, and so on. I do not want same experience any more. On the other hand, people attempt to recover rapidly, and they help each other. When I saw these sights, I was impressed. I hope Carbondale would be recovered as soon as possible. In conclusion, even though the tornado caused huge damege, we could learn many lessons through this experience.
Protectionism: Urgent problem in today’s world
With the development of the economy, the relationship between countries is much stronger than before. However the practice of protectionism, which means the government does its utmost to protect their industries just goes the opposite way of globalization. The prices are unstable because of the reduction of imports or exports. People have fewer choices than before. Also, some countries set up a wall to prevent personnel who come from other countries to occupy jobs in their nations. Even people who get well educated still can’t be employed by big companies abroad. In addition, free trade is making more interdependence among nations and mutual understanding among cultures, and can help countries to maintain political stability. In my opinion, economic protectionism is a real risk. Protectionism can increase the misunderstanding between different nations, and cut the world into many pieces. That is why I think protectionism has bad influences on our life, and it should be one the most urgent problems for the people.
Facebook, it is good?
I started to use Facebook a little more than one year ago. It was because all my friends told me to open it. For sure I did it. Facebook helped me and is still helping me to know new people, and keep in touch with my friends. Also it allows me see some information about my friends, such as photos and comments. Another way that Facebook helps is to share moments with videos, pictures and comments. It is because every friend can see your profile. Sometimes Facebook can be dangerous; it is because there is sometimes personal or private information about you available to any person who has the interest. Although t is good, recording moments with photos and videos, sometimes people don't like being public. This is more true when there are embarrassing situations that make them feel uncomfortable. However everything depends about how you use it. And Facebook has been helping people to keep in touch and make new friends every moment. In conclusion Facebook is getting famous and more famous in the entire world and every person is using it.
The Carbondale storm
At first, I want say this is the first storm in my life. I already have been in Carbondale for one and half years. here were some storm warning in Carbondale, but none was a real storm. When the storm warning is on, I didn't pay attention to that. I just stayed in my home, watched the storm and saw that the power was down. After the storm, I found that many trees had fallen don and some houses were broken. I could never imagine that the storm could break trees and houses, because as I saw in my house, the storm is just a heavy rain. I think the recover around the area is too slow. My friend told me that the workers need 5 days to fix the power. So I just went to another city, because I cannot do anything without power.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Maiko Ariki
Big Fish: What people say about the movie?
Big Fish movie was made in 2003, and directed by Tim Burton. I prefer the movie to the book for many reasons. The movie was easier to recognize than the book, and every scene was beautiful. Also, the movie has more realistic in the scenes that were different between the book and the movie. Many people also have some opinion about the movie.
First, a reviewer states that “The movie says that the only answer is yes. And selects maudlin moonshine over engagement with the difficulties of life, which is exactly the choice Edward has made. Its vision of America during the last four decades has been scrubbed clean of any social or political messiness and has been burnished to a warm, happy glow” (A.O. Scott, 2003). I agree with this opinion because I also felt that the movie insisted in the difficulties of life, especially in the conflict of the marriage party. After the marriage party, the father and the son didn’t have contact for three years. In this movie, I could see some difficulties of life, but Edward changed them to happiness.
Another reviewer says that “It's a simple premise, but a complex film with brilliant imagery and imagination” (Jordan, 2008). I also agree with her, because I felt the film was complex, but the imagination was great. Actually, I couldn’t understand or imagine some parts of the book, but after I watched the movie, I could understand, and the scene was more brilliant than what I expected. I think it was well-made because the movie was not as complicated as the book. The time is always changing between Edward’s time and the son’s time, so it is difficult to imagine in the book. But the movie helped me to understand the time lag.
In conclusion, there are some opinions about the Big Fish movie, and the commentators say that the movie describes maudlin moonshine with the difficulties of life, and it has great imagination. I also like the movie better than the book.
Scott, A, O (2003, December 10). Big Fish FILM REVIEW; Hook, Line and Sinker: A Life of Telling Tall Tales. The New York Times. Retrieved on April 27, 2009, from
http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9C03E1D81E3DF933A25751C1A9659C8B63
Jordan, T (2008, November 7). Big Fish Movie Review. Ezine Articles. Retrieved April 27, 2009, from
http://ezinearticles.com/?Big-Fish-Movie-Review&id=1667885
Big Fish Writing Assignment
Director Tim Burton presented us a great movie; it was filled up with love, myth, and dreams. The movie was Big Fish. When I read the book, I liked this book and thought it was great. The author Daniel Wallace wrote the story between son and his father. The father always tells the son unbelievable stories such as the two-head woman, the giant and the special eye which could predict future. The son doesn’t believe them. But all the stories are true, the son knows after his father’s death. It was a warm story-Big Fish.
So the question is here, what should he do to shorten the novel with details to a short movie? How to keep the original style? These are common problems to transfer novel to movie. But Burton successfully did it; even though he changed some things, it was still like the novel. Sometimes, the story was really changed. For example, the strange villages are different in movie and book. I think the movie version was better because many children may see this movie, and the villagers who were in the book having lost their fingers would be little scary for them. In the book, there were many different short stories and they didn’t have obvious relations. In some cases, Burton merged several stories into one story. I think that was good; if the movie 100% copied the book that would be messy and ambiguous.
However, I learned so much from this movie not only the wonderful story, but also the love, the love among family. All of us came from little children, it’s undeniable. When we were young, we liked to do something silly, believe in magic, and listen to mythic stories. Like the movie, when Will was a litter boy, he always asked his father to tell stories before bedtime. Moreover, he truly believed these stories so that he got nightmares sometimes. But he was growing up gradually. He began to not believe what his father said. In the beginning of the movie, a big fish story was told through a long time from young Will to his wedding by the father. After his father finished the story in the wedding, Will felt upset; he felt his father took the focus away from him, and he didn't talk with his father for a long time. Several years later, when the father was dying, Will came home to see him and recollect his father’s life. However, Will did not believe that; he though his father had another family. He asked his father to tell the truth and told his father there was a misunderstanding between them; he just wanted to know who his father was. The father said all of them which he told were true. Finally, in the hospital, before the father died, he asked Will to describe how he died. It was a weird question. Will though for a little while, then he began his story: he carried his father and broke out of the hospital, then he drove his father to the river, they saw the giant on the road; at the river, everybody appeared there, everybody, they said goodbye to Edward, but no one was sad; Will laid Edward into the water, Edward became a big fish and swam away. Will fell into weeping while finishing the last story, the father was dead. In the end of the movie, at the father’s funeral, everybody came, including the giant, the two-headed women.
Will, the son, understood his father at the end. Maybe we understood as well. His father told those stories because he wanted to make it fancy and interesting. When we were young, we liked incredible stories. But when we grew up, we didn’t believe them anymore. The stories don’t change, the only thing changed are our hearts. However, there is another thing that will never ever change and that is love. Those lies are a span of love, so much love.
Maybe that is the most important thing which the novel and the movie want to tell us.
Weiran
